A passenger with human monkeypox, who recently traveled to Nigeria, has entered the U.S. through the Atlanta airport, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed.

The passenger left Lagos, Nigeria on July 8 and arrived in Atlanta on July 9, the CDC said Friday, July 16. The traveler went to Dallas after a layover at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, WSB-TV reported. The passenger exited the Dallas Love Field Airport also on July 9. 

The traveler is now in a Dallas hospital. It is the first case of human monkeypox in the U.S. in nearly two decades.

Health officials with the Dallas County Health and Human Services said the patient, a Texas resident, is hospitalized in isolation and is now in stable condition.

In a statement, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said this is not a reason for alarm, and they do not expect any threat to the general public, NBC News reported.

According to CDC, the agency is now looking at potential risks to those who may have had close contact with the traveler on the plane and specific setups.

The CDC noted that it is believed that the risk of spreading monkeypox through respiratory droplets to others in the airports and on the planes is low since travelers on these flights were required to wear masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press release, the Dallas County Health and Human Services director, Dr. Philip Huang, said this is another validation of the importance of maintaining a strong public health infrastructure. Huang noted that people are only a plane ride away from any global infectious disease.

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Human Monkeypox Cases

Human monkeypox has not been seen in the U.S. since an outbreak in 2003 involving 47 people. The outbreak was traced back to pet prairie dogs in the Midwest that harbored the respiratory virus.

The human monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease happened in colonies of monkeys kept for research.

According to CDC, the first human case of the disease was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo at a time of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox.

Human monkeypox infections have occurred six times outside of Africa, with 47 cases in the United States in 2003, three cases in the United Kingdom, and one case in Israel, both in 2018.

Singapore had also seen the virus with one case in 2019, three cases in the United Kingdom, and one case in the U.S. that both happened this year.

Symptoms of Human Monkeypox 

The incubation period for human monkeypox from the time of infection to symptoms is usually seven to 14 days. However, it can last from five to 21 days.

The illness starts with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, chills, and exhaustion. Within three days after a fever, the patient develops a rash that often begins on the face then spreads to other parts of the body.

Having contact with animals, humans, or materials with the virus can be the cause of transmission. It enters through broken skin, respiratory tract, or through the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Animal-to-human transmission can happen by bite or scratch, bush meat preparations, or direct contact with body fluids or lesion material.

Transmissions can be prevented by avoiding contact with persons or animals that may have the disease and practicing good hygiene. 

The CDC said there is no specific vaccine or treatment for monkeypox. Most patients recover within a month, but in rare cases, the virus can be fatal.

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Written by Mary Webber

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